Cover for grille-type automobile radiator fronts



May 4, 1937. B MU MERT 2,079,380

COVER FOR GRILLE TYPE AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR PRONTS Filed May 31, 1954 Jim;

Attorney Patented May 4, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COVER FOR GRILLE-TYPE AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR FRONTS Harold B. Mummert, Valparaiso, Ind.

Application May 31, 1934, Serial No. 728,297

Claims.

mobile radiators which have a grille positioned,

in front of the conventional radiators; that has an upper portion or section which is quite sepa 1 rate from the lower one; that has specially adapted fastenings which are applied to the grille without any dismemberment of the radiator and grills; that enables the user to quickly and effectively place the covers in position so as to safe- 15 guard the radiator against unsatisfactory engine performance and freezing during winter driving; that-provides fastenings attached to the grille in register with openings in the covers, the fastenings have turn buttons to hold the covers in place; and that provides a unitary frame for each cover to which an inner and outer water proofing material is attached and the space between is filled with a soft insulating medium. Each section of the cover haspermanent eyelets with elongated open- 25 in'gs through which the turn-buttons of the fastenings project.

With these and other'ends in view 1 illustrate on the accompanying drawing such instances of adaptation as will disclose the broad underlying 30 features of my invention without limiting myself to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a grille-type radiator front with the cover fasteners secured to the 35 grille.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 1 with a cover positioned on the lower portion. r Fig. 3 shows both covers in position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing how the upper 40 and lower covers may be padlocked to the grille.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a diagonally disposed grille.

Fig. 6 is an elevation at A and B of the wire frame for the upper and lower sections, and at C 45 is shown a plan view of the frames.

Fig. 7 is a front'elevation of one of the fastenings secured to three bars of the grille.

Fig. 8 is a plan view partly in section of Fig. '7. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic front elevation, similar 5 to Fig. 7, showing the way in which the fastenings are assembled on the-grille bars.

In installing my device I may use any equivalents or alternatives of structure that the exigencies of various conditions may demand without 55 departing from the broad spirit of the invention.

This invention is directed to safeguarding automobile radiators against injury during freezing weather'and it is specially adapted to automobiles which have grille fronts to their radiators. Since this style has come into vogue, former expedients of covers etc., suitable for old style radiator fronts, 22, are found to be useless. Automatic means for controlling the flow of air through radiators,

subject to changes in temperature are unavailable for use on grilles positioned in front of standard 10 type radiators. 1

The principal role of my radiator covers is to aid in maintaining proper motor operating temperatures without recourse to thermostatic controls and so as to prevent the liquid contents of the radiator freezing. The covers are easily at tached, and as easily removed. In addition to these utilitarian features, the covers are attractive, and durable and can be produced and supplied at a reasonable cost in proportion to the service they render.

My covers have been subjected to rigorous use throughout very cold weather. The ease with which they can be attached and removed is entirely dependent on the fasteners I have provided as permanent attachments on the grille front of automobile radiator fronts. The protection I secure is dependent on an upper and a lower section, respectively 9 and I0, which, when used together, entirely cover the front of the grille as shown in Fig. 3. Each section is shaped so as to neatly fit against the marginal frame I of the grille 2.

With grille-type radiator fronts it is difficult to fasten any kind of a cover holder because the grille 2 and its frame I cannot ordinarily be taken off from the automobile. I have overcome this difiiculty by first securing to the bars of the grille 2 fastenings 3, of sufiicient number to register with reinforced eyelets 8, on bothsections. The fastenings are provided with spring pressed turn-buttons 5 similar to standard curtain fasteners used on touring cars.

The upper section 9 and the lower section I0 are made comparatively rigid by a frame 16 for the upper, and a frame I! for the lower section. The frames l6 and I1 may be of wire or in any form of sheet-metal stamping- There is mounted on the frames a water proofed front I8, such as similar material used on automobile tops. This is carried around the frames and it is sewed to the back I!) by stitching 2|. Between the front and back of each section any desired kind of insulating material 20 is placed.

As shown, the sections 9 and II have a plu- F angles.

V shown in Figure 4.

The sections of the cover, as stated, are removably held on the' fastenings 3-4. There may be as many eyelets 8 and fastenings 3-4 on the sections as is found desirable according to the size of the grille. Each fastening 3- 4 is secured on the front .of one or more grille bars by a long narrow plate 1 into which screws 6 are threaded. These screws pass through the base 3 and between the grille bars. When once assembled the fastenings 3-4 need not be removed.

In order that the sections may be secured on the grille against being stolen I form an eyelet H in each section near their meeting edges at the overlapping portion l5 of the upper section. A hasp l2 of the padlock I3 is passed through the eyelets H and behind a grille bar l4.

Because the grille 2 cannot easily be removed from the car the fastenings 34 are assembled as suggested in Fig. 9. The narrow retaining strip or plate'l is placed on a screw 6 which passes through the base 3. The strip is then passed between a pair of grille bars and its free end is swung up as shown in Fig. 9 until it is in register with the other hole in the base 3 I when the second screw is inserted and both screws tightened. Ordinarily the screw may fit snug enough in the plate so that turning the first screw will swing the plate up into position. The fastenings 34 are of course secured on the grille bars, in register 'with the eyelets of v the covers. Frames l6 and I! may be bent as shown at C of Fig. 6 to conform to the contour of the grille.

' When in use, in comparativelycool weather,

both sections are used when the car is parked for any considerable time and for warming up the motor on short drives. 0n longer drives, at

outside temperatures of, say, 25 degrees F. or

lower, the lower section would be used. For

outside temperatures of, say, 25 to 40 degrees F.,

the upper section only would be used. For temperatures .above 40 degrees F., the cover is not ordinarily needed while driving. The temperatures given are only approximate, and depend on the make of car, the condition of the motor and cooling system, the direction of the wind, the liquid in the cooling system, and speed of driving, and other related factors.

It is of course understood that my fastening devices may be applied to any form of grille in which a narrow strip 1 can be passed through an opening between the grille bars whether the bars are vertical, horizontal, diagonal, etc.

What I claim is:-

1. In grille-type radiator covers for a plurality of closely spaced grille bars, a removable upper section cover, aseparate lower section cover both sections being provided with eyelets, and fastenings secured to and passing between the grille bars in register with the eyelets whereby the fastenings are attachable to the grille without removing it from the radiator.

2. -In grille-type radiator covers for a grille having closely spaced bars with relatively thin walls, a turn-button member, a retaining plate, and means for securing the plate to the turn-button by screws passing through the plate between bars of the grille and into the turn button member.

3. In grille-type radiator covers for a grille, a unitary frame for the upper portion of the grille, a unitary frame permanently secured to the lower part of the grille, waterproof covering for the frames, and heat insulating material enclosed by the covering.

4. In a cover for a radiator having a grille, I

a conventional type radiator, a separate grille attached in front of the radiator and spaced apart therefrom, said grille having closely spaced bars with relatively thin walls, attachable and. detachable cover retaining means passing be- .tween the grille bars comprising a supporting plate positioned against the rear face of the bars, a turn button on the front of the bar, and screws passing through the plate between the bars into the turn button member. v

5. In a cover for a. radiator having a grille, a conventional radiator, a grille unit including closely spaced narrow and shallow walls, attachable and detachable covers adapted to be secured to the front of the grille said covers having eyelets formed therein, a plurality of fastenings cooperating with the eyelets said fastenings passing between the grille bars and being attachable without the removal of the grille from the 

